Wolfertschwenden, 24 January 2017 - MULTIVAC will be presenting a comprehensive range of packaging solutions for the medical and pharmaceutical industries at interpack 2017 in Düsseldorf. In addition to a packaging line with automated product handling, the company will also be presenting on Stand A 51 in Hall 17 a range of solutions for packing small series of products.
The trend towards increasing individualisation and greater product diversity continues uninterrupted - individual medical and pharmaceutical products are being manufactured and packed ever more frequently in small batch sizes. At the same time, statutory requirements and standards, which result for example from the UDI Directive on medical products or from the serialisation of pharmaceuticals, are having to be incorporated into packaging and marking processes. In order to meet the daily challenges, manufacturers have mostly relied up to now on a combination of packaging solutions for large output and compact standalone machines for packing small batches.
Fully automated packaging of syringes
MULTIVAC offers companies in the healthcare industry a wide range of needs-based packaging solutions from one source, as well as comprehensive expert knowledge, a high level of expertise in automation and very professional service.
The machines presented at interpack by the manufacturer from the Allgäu region of Germany will include a thermoforming packaging ma-chine in GMP design with a single-side chain guide for packing syringes. The machine is equipped with an automatic syringe infeed, which ensures that up to 300 pre-filled glass or plastic syringes per minute can be transported and monitored with great process reliability. The infeed system consists of a product infeed conveyor, a star wheel, a trapezoidal belt, a 3-axis robot and a H 242 handling module for loading the syringes into the pack cavities. The packaging machine has great flexibility for packing products in a wide range of formats and materials. Fast and reproducible conversion of the machine is achieved through simple quick-change systems for the dies and complete cutting tool. All the components of the packaging line are synchronised with the thermoforming packaging machine, and they can be operated via its control terminal in a user-friendly and reliable way.
The single-side chain guide on the thermoforming packaging machine ensures that there is simple line clearance and a high degree of machine availability and efficiency. The monitored web advance contributes to a low level of start-up loss after batch changes for example. The functions for running the machine empty and cleaning it are also designed to be very simple. This means that this concept is particularly well-suited to small product series and frequent batch changes.
Economical packing of small series of products
At interpack MULTIVAC will be presenting the compact R 081 thermoforming packaging machine for packing small series of medical and pharmaceutical products. It is ideal as an entry-level machine for smallscale production and those companies, which are planning to enter into automated packaging. The R 081 has a "slide-in" die change system for quick and easy format change, and it is possible to freely configure the formats. It is designed to run both rigid and flexible film and can be equipped with a variety of marking systems. The machine can also be equipped with evacuation and gas flushing systems to produce either vacuum packs or packs with modified atmosphere and reduced oxygen content.
High-output direct web printer for marking packs to statutory requirements
In Düsseldorf the R 081 will be presented for the first time with the DP 230 direct web printer, which is equipped with the TTO 06, a networkenabled thermal transfer printer of the latest generation. The DP 230 is installed in the area of the sealing station, which means that the loading area of the packaging machine is easily accessible. The DP 230 can print the packs in both the longitudinal and cross directions and is therefore suitable for machines with multi-row and multi-track dies. Thanks to the new servo drives, no measurement runs for positioning the printer are required - this saves time at machine start and batch change.
Packing in trays with small to medium-sized quantities
As regards the traysealer sector, MULTIVAC will be showing the T 260 traysealer on the stand in Hall 17. The machine has a wide range of equipment options for packing medical and pharmaceutical products in small to medium-sized batches, and it offers a high degree of process reliability, measurability and reproducibility as well as above all great flexibility. The T 260 can run a broad spectrum of materials as pre-cut sheets or from the roll. High sealing forces ensure that very good sealing quality is achieved. MULTIVAC's proven IPC control enables the entire packaging procedure to be monitored and controlled. The control terminal is equipped with an intuitive touchscreen, which visualises the complex processes and is characterised by its very high level of operating convenience. Critical parameters such as sealing pressure, cooling water and temperature are monitored permanently by sensors. Users also have a wide range of software options available, such as for example FDA CFR 21 Part 11 and the evaluation of production data.
